Agbor NDIP1, Clarence MBANGA2, NJIM TSI3
1Ibal Sub-Divisional Hospital ,Northwest Cameroon; Mankon sub-Divisional Hospital, Northwest Cameroon; Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford.
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OSME012
Background: Adolescent deliveries remain a global public health concern especially in low- and middle-income countries where 95% of these deliveries occur.
Objectif: We sought to evaluate the prevalence, trend and adverse maternofoetal outcomes of adolescent deliveries in a rural community in Cameroon
Methodology: We carried out a retrospective register analysis of 1804 singleton deliveries in two health facilities located in the Oku sub-division over an 8-year period (2009 to 2016). We excluded: records without maternal age, babies born before arrival, birthweights less than 1000 grams, multiple deliveries and deliveries before 28 weeks gestation. Data analysis was done using Epi info 7.0.8.3
Results: The eight-year prevalence of adolescent deliveries was 20.4% (95% CI = 18.6 - 22.4) with a significant, downward trend between 2009 and 2016 (P trend = 0.05). Second-fourth degree perineal tears were more likely to complicate adolescent deliveries compared with their counterparts (OR = 2.9; 95% CI = 1.8 - 4.7; p <0.001). Also, babies born to adolescent mothers were more likely to have a low birthweight (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 1.1 - 2.6; p = 0.009) and be asphyxiated at the 5th minute of life (OR = 3.2; 95% CI = 1.9 - 5.5; p <0.001).
Conclusion/Recommandation: The prevalence of adolescent deliveries in this rural community is high with one of every five babies born to an adolescent mother. Despite the downward trend indicating a decrease in adolescent deliveries, our study demonstrates the need to reinforce existing government-based public health programme to target key indicators of adolescent pregnancy in Cameroon
Key Words: Adolescent deliveries; Adverse maternofoetal outcomes; Cameroon